JohnnyOnTheSpot

Just speculation on my part but I'm wondering if O'Shea is going with experience here (former HC) because he knows Stubler is going to Calgary.

As much as I'd like to have Kohlert it's hardly crippling, especially when you look at what the other teams lost.

You "caught" an Eskimos practice once & watched anywhere from 5 minutes to maybe two hours on the field. You based what you consider is his work ethic just on that. You never sat in on the defensive meetings. You never saw Stubler break down film. You never saw him conduct a defensive meeting with all of his players in the meeting rooms. You never saw the preparation that he may have done in the Eskimo offices. You don't know what was happening behind the scenes nor do you know what the defense was focusing on during that practice that day. But simply based on your observations of one practice his potential hire scares you? We could hire Wally Buono & there'd be fans bitching about that, too. Unbelievable. You are correct which is why I am giving O'Shea the benefit of the doubt. Fact is though seen I've hundreds of practices but never seen what Stubler did that day. He sat on the bench and did not participate at all until his segment came up. I heard him make a joke about not wanting to get up, walked onto the field and right back to the bench when he was finished. I was astonished, never seen it before or since. He just looked like a burn out. I hope it's an anomaly.

I caught an Eskimo practice when Stubler was there and I have to say I've NEVER seen a coach more uninterested in my life. He's 64, 4 jobs in 5 years and runs a D that most people here say they hate: the bend but don't break. I'm going to give O'Shea the benefit of the doubt but this hire scares me.

Maybe because he pursued every opportunity that came up to leave. I always wondered why an ex-official didn't have the job anyway.

The Ottawa job is suicide IMHO. Expect them to have 2 years of losing before turning the corner, just long enough to get fired and the new guy start to win with the foundation you built. I'd love to have Higgins here as DC. A rookie HC like O'Shea could really use a guy like that on the sidelines to talk things over with.

Stubler has now worn out his welcome on his last 3 teams. He's well past his best before date. No thank you.

Berry: Winnipeg - fired Sask - fired Mtl - fired Why the love? No thanks in any capacity.

Something to the effect of (and I'm paraphrasing): why would I want to go there .. it's where kickers and their careers go to die .. Berry was the coach at the time who rode Westwood out of the league and almost did the the same to Serna, so his comment rings pretty true. He looked like a psych case on the sidelines after a bad kick. Add to it the fact that Canadinns had hard to predict wind and we really should have been a kickers last stop at that time. ahh yes cause Westwood wasn't a washed up old vet at that point and Serna wasn't a below average american kicker... I hated Serna more than anybody but it didn't excuse Berry's actions. That's the guy he picked! My point is who would want to play in Canadinns for Berry? Not anybody with options.

Something to the effect of (and I'm paraphrasing): why would I want to go there .. it's where kickers and their careers go to die .. Berry was the coach at the time who rode Westwood out of the league and almost did the the same to Serna, so his comment rings pretty true. He looked like a psych case on the sidelines after a bad kick. Add to it the fact that Canadinns had hard to predict wind and we really should have been a kickers last stop at that time.

If Higgins can work for Hugh Campbell why can't he work for Miller? Campbell ran the league by some accounts in those days. Factor in that Miller has said he's not here for the long haul and I think Higgins, who wants the job, can take it and wait.

If we lose Henoc we'll need a ratio breaker somewhere else and we will have the money. You give a competitive offer in any case when you are Canadian weak like we are.

Besides QB the thing we need the most is NI o-linemen who can START RIGHT NOW. If we got that I'm ok with the trade but Neufeld has to be a solid starter, not a back up. As with all trades time will tell.

I think there could be SOME truth to this. I was actually in favor of inserting Goltz shortly after Boltus just because he's our most experienced guy and I had enough embarrassment. I thought he might be the best candidate for that but the truth is that all our QB's are turnover machines. Higgins was in town for that game. Do you think the Bombers talked to him? I'd say offer him HC/GM role to finish the year and let him pick his HC for next year. I don't expect any wins out of it but it sends the message to any potential free agents that we are serious about becoming a sane and respectable place to play again.

As with Labatte, intangibles can come into play. You'll play for a little less to eat Mom's home cooking. I don't recall ever losing a Winnipeg guy to free agency that we really wanted to keep but maybe that's because we haven't had enough of them around to find out.

If you coach scared to lose the players become uncertain and tentative. Show leadership and confidence and the players have a much better chance to succeed. Not only is Burke the worst Bomber coach ever but I now believe him to be the worst head coach I have ever seen in any league.

Bob Irving likens losing him to losing Labatte and I agree. We have got to start looking at drafting guys who will be here for their whole career. Being a Manitoban should count for more than it is right now.

I remember some really bad owners, so bad they ruin a franchise for years. I remember the Bombers pre-cap era no less, sending money to keep other teams afloat. At least with Braley that didn't happen.

Most efficient thing in my opinion is every team gets two bye weeks. With one team per week getting a bye? Does this work with 18 games? I remember once (Montreal?) a team getting the bye week the last week of the season and also having won the division. That's a looong break. I also remember the Bombers getting the bye in the last week and having missed the playoffs. They were home for Halloween.

Three games vs Regina per year... What do we call the third game?

Looked at from Wally's point of view, he has to believe that just having Buck around will help Lulay since there is no way Buck is going to see the field. I like that we got something back but Wally is out to help Wally and he must feel this makes the Lions a better football team. Why the hurry to trade away a NI receiver? Unless offered a quality NI o-lineman or QB we want I would keep them all and wait until we see how free agency/Ottawa draft shakes out.

Possibly cost him MOP. Does Sheets have it locked up now?

I'd argue that Burke's made the talent look even worse than it is. It was only a couple of weeks ago everyone was saying we are just one game manager of a QB away from a playoff spot and now we think the whole team stinks? Something ain't right. Outside of a couple of players, who is playing their best football? Players play hard for coaches they believe in. Nasty Nate used to call Daley the White Zombie, I'd say Burke is more like a statue of a zombie out there. This team has become a reflection of him.

The way it stands right now Burke will go down as the worst, bar none worst coach this team has ever had. At least if you replace him you have the chance of getting the players fired up again. Regardless, pretty much a clean sweep is needed in the off season.

I read he was working on his punting. We do need the help there. Renaud can't even hold consistently anymore.